1 Birdfinders’ website, www.birdfinders.co.uk, is updated frequently with tour news, tour reports and images and the availability of places on future holidays. Our website is regularly the highest rated of any UK birdwatching tour company on the FatBirder web ring of the top one thousand two hundred -related websites. Our office manager, Helen Heyes, is available Tuesdays and Fridays from 09.00 to 17.00 and, when not on tour, Vaughan and Svetlana are available from 09.00 to 18.00 every day.

We look forward to seeing you on a birding holiday of a lifetime.

Vaughan and Svetlana Ashby and all the team. The Birdfinders team is pleased to present you with our programme of birdwatching holidays in 2021, our twenty-eighth year of operation. Full itineraries for all of our tours can be found on our website but, if you do not have access to the internet, do not hesitate to contact us and we will send you paper copies of any tours in which you have an interest. Similarly, our full terms and conditions, single and other supplements, insurance, voluntary carbon offset and bios of all our leaders can be found on our website. www.birdfinders.co.uk Birdfinders holidays range from four-day breaks to twenty-four day vacations and from single-centre trips to extensive tours involving multiple locations. Regardless of type, our holidays are consistently successful in terms of finding a high proportion of the sought-after specialities due to our carefully devised itineraries and knowledgeable, experienced leaders, many of whom are resident in the country in question. Birdfinders continues to offer some of the finest-value birdwatching holidays on the market, largely because of our low overheads; compare our prices per day with those of other bird tour companies. Unlike many bird tour companies, our prices include all flights, ground transport, accommodation, guiding services and reserve entry fees. With meals included on most of our tours we exclude only personal items. Although Birdfinders holidays are designed specifically for all-day birdwatching (led by birders for birders), we do stop whenever possible if we encounter other forms of wildlife. We cater for all levels of birdwatching ability, the only requirement of a participant being an enthusiasm to watch ; our leaders are always happy and willing to share their expertise. Accommodation standards are comfortable, with en-suite facilities wherever possible, but, on certain holidays, some locations do necessitate our staying in a lesser standard but this is always stated in our brochure. All participants on Birdfinders tours will receive a copy of a website link to a previous tour report to the relevant country or region in advance of the tour and, on some tours, a few weeks after returning, a new tour report. Also, uniquely, for many of our tours, we will send participants a free CD compilation of the best images of birds, and scenery taken on the holiday in question; we were the first bird tour company to do this. All participants also receive in advance a blank daily bird checklist for the tour together with an information letter detailing helpful advice on various subjects including passports, visas, travel insurance, health requirements, clothing, bird books, maps, currency, packing, luggage allowances, flight times, meeting arrangements and accommodation. Feedback forms are also available on our website so that we can maintain our policy of continuous tour improvement. We hold Air Travel Organisers’ Licence No. 5406, issued by the Civil Aviation Authority. In the unlikely event of our financial insolvency, this licence would fully protect from financial loss any participant who has booked aBirdfinders holiday which includes a flight originating in the UK. Birdfinders offers participants the option of making a donation to the World Land Trust to offset the emissions created on the flight element of the holiday. The World Land Trust uses this money to purchase land and effect re-afforestation. At the time of writing, over £55,000 has been Full details of all our tours can be found on our website. This is the place to go for details on current raised from our tours including the contributions made by Birdfinders on each tour on behalf of and new tours, plus photo galleries taken by both leaders and participants, tour reports, the leaders. lists and much more. Keep an eye on www.birdfinders.co.ukto stay up to date with Birdfinders.

2 3 Maghreb Dalmatian Lark BULGARIA AND ROMANIA – WINTER Pelican 3–8 February 2021 £1095 In most years nearly all of the world’s Red- breasted Geese winter in Bulgaria and good num- WESTERN bers occur close to our base on the Black Sea coast, as do Lesser White-fronted Geese, Ferruginous Ducks, Greater Spotted and White-tailed Eagles, Rough-legged and Long-legged Buzzards, Pallas’s PALEARCTIC Gulls and Syrian Woodpeckers. Further afield we will look for Eurasian Eagle-owl and Middle Spotted and Grey-headed Woodpeckers.

Algerian Collared ALGERIA BULGARIA – SPRING Pratincole 27–30 March/2 April 2021 £1195 17–27 May 2021 £1495 On this exciting new tour we are targeting the Our circuit of Bulgaria begins and ends in Sofia endangered and highly-localised . and encompasses both the Rhodope and Balkan Discovered only in 1975, fewer than 1000 birds Mountains and the Black Sea coast. The variety of remain in an area of just 240 square kilometres habitats is reflected in the country’s long list of in the and oak mountains of north-eastern species. Those we shall look for include Levantine Algeria. We are also offering an extension to south- Shearwater, Dalmatian Pelican, Cinereous Vulture, ern Algeria where both Red-billed Firefinch and Imperial Eagle, White-backed Woodpecker, Wall- African Silverbill occur in their only Western creeper, Olive-tree and Paddyfield Warblers and Palearctic outpost. Semicollared Flycatcher.

Caspian Cyprus AZERBAIJAN CYPRUS Wheatear 19–29 May 2021 £2695 23–27 April 2021 £995 This ground-breaking new tour to the farthest reach- Cyprus is one of the largest of the Mediterranean es of the Western Palearctic sees us search, amidst islands and is home to the endemic Cyprus Scops- spectacular mountain scenery, for such sought- owl and breeding endemics Cyprus Warbler and after species as Caucasian Snowcock, White- Cyprus Wheatear. This tour will specifically target winged Redstart, Great Rosefinch, Caspian Tit, these three birds as well as the scarce Black Fran- Mongolian , White-throated Robin, the ever-de- colin. Spring migration will be a feature of the tour lightful Wallcreeper and Shikra in its only breeding too: because of the island’s position off the coasts area within the boundaries of the Western Palearctic of Turkey, Syria and Lebanon, it attracts numerous region. migrants at this season. Azure Tit BELARUS EGYPT 5–12 May 2021 £1895 14–27 Sept 2021 £2995 This exciting new tour to one of the least-known This unique tour covers all the very best birding eastern European destinations includes visiting sev- localities in the Nile Valley and on the Red Sea eral beautiful National Parks including Pripyatsky (a coast, where habitats include deserts, scrub, famous World Heritage Site), Bielaviežškaja Pušča open water and mangroves. Egypt is a must for any- (the larger eastern extension of Białowieza ancient body who is keen on Western Palearctic birds and forest in Poland) and Sporaŭski Reserve, home to we will search for a number of the region’s most 50% of the world’s Aquatic Warblers. We also have highly-sought-after species including Chestnut- an excellent chance of finding one of Europe’s most bellied Sandgrouse, Saunders’s Tern, Crab Plover, Chestnut-bellied difficult birds, Azure Tit. Goliath Heron, Sooty Falcon and Senegal . Sandgrouse 4 5 Steller’s Eider ESTONIA HUNGARY 26–31 March 2021 £1275 17–24 May 2021 £1595 Estonia’s resident birds include Eurasian Caper- Hungary’s wonderful mix of habitats includes the for- caillie, Hazel Grouse, White-tailed Eagle, Eurasian ests and great plain in the bird-rich Kiskunság and Eagle-owl, Northern Pygmy-owl, Ural Owl, White- Hortobágy regions, where we will look for Pygmy backed, Eurasian Three-toed, Black and Grey- Cormorant, Little Crake, Lesser Spotted and Imperial headed Woodpeckers and Eurasian . Eagles, Great Bustard, Eurasian Eagle-owl, Ural Owl, Wintering Steller’s Eiders will still be present at this nine woodpecker species including White-backed, time and Arctic waterbird migration will be in full Syrian and Grey-headed, Red-footed and Saker swing, possibly involving large numbers of Taiga and Falcons, Lesser Grey Shrike, Moustached, River and Little Tundra Bean-geese and Long-tailed Ducks. Barred Warblers and Collared Flycatcher. Bittern Red-flanked Bluetail FINLAND AND NORWAY ISLES OF SCILLY, UK 15–27 May 2021 £4295 3–10 Oct 2020, 9–16 Oct 2021 £1095 Finland’s bird-rich forests, lakes and marshes, The Isles of Scilly is the finest place in England to Norway’s tundra, the Varanger Fjord and the observe scarce and rare migrant birds in autumn, all Arctic Ocean form the backdrop to this exciting tour. against a backdrop of beautiful scenery. Each year Target species will include Hazel Grouse, all five is different: past tour highlights have included Sora, northern owls, Eurasian Three-toed and Black Cream-coloured Courser, Sociable Lapwing, Upland Woodpeckers, Siberian , Grey-headed Chick- Sandpiper, Cedar Waxwing, Red-flanked Bluetail, adee, Red-flanked Bluetail and Pine Grosbeak in Blackpoll Warbler, Northern Waterthrush, Ameri- Finland and King and Steller’s Eiders, Gyrfalcon and can Robin, Scaly and Black-throated Thrushes and Thick-billed Murre in Norway. Booted Warbler. Rose-breasted Grosbeak FINLAND – OWLS – AUTUMN 7–10/12 May 2021 £1495 5–12 Nov 2020 and 2021 £1895 Oulu will be our base as we search for Eurasian Israel supports remarkable bird diversity, especial- Pygmy-owl, Ural, Great Grey and Boreal Owls and ly in November. We can expect about 240 species the less-predictable Northern Hawk Owl; owl num- on a tour of the whole country designed to see bers fluctuate annually in response to variations Marbled Duck, Western Reef-heron, Black in rodent populations. Hazel Grouse, Terek Sand- Francolin, Macqueen’s Bustard, Lichtenstein’s and piper, Eurasian Three-toed and Black Woodpeckers, Crowned Sandgrouse, Sociable Lapwing, Nam- , Siberian Tit, Red-flanked Bluetail, aqua Dove, Arabian Warbler, Hooded and Finsch’s Rustic Bunting and Pine Grosbeak are all possible. Wheatears, Long-billed Pipit, Desert Finch, Syrian Eurasian Long-billed Pygmy-owl Serin and rarities such as Hypocolius. Pipit GREECE – LESVOS ISRAEL – SPRING Blackstart 28 April–5 May 2021 £1795 24–31 March 2021 £1995 At this season on the island of Lesvos the mix of A mouth-watering array of breeding birds, including breeding birds and regular migrants is irresistible. Macqueen’s Bustard, Lichtenstein’s Sandgrouse, In particular, we will be looking for Chukar, Little Namaqua Dove, Hume’s Owl, Nubian Nightjar and Crake, European Scops-owl, Middle Spotted Wood- Arabian Warbler, numerous eastern migrants, such pecker, Red-footed and Eleonora’s Falcons, Lesser as Steppe Eagle, Pallid Harrier, Masked Shrike, Grey and Masked Shrikes, Sombre Tit, Krüper’s and Eastern Orphean and Rüppell’s Warblers and Western Rock , Olive-tree Warbler, Cretzschmar’s Bunting, and a very good chance of Rufous-tailed Scrub-robin and Cinereous and a rarity or two combine to make Israel a wonderful Cretzschmar’s Cretzschmar’s Buntings. birding destination in spring. Bunting 6 7 Indian Bulwer’s Silverbill KUWAIT – SPRING PORTUGAL – Petrel 12–20 April 2021 £2195 20–26 June 2021 £1395 Breeding birds, including Crab Plover, Bridled, This one-centre tour takes us into spectacular scen- White-cheeked, Great Crested and Lesser Crested ery to search for the endemic Trocaz Pigeon and Terns, Namaqua Dove, Red-vented and White-eared plus the Micronesian endemics Bulbuls and Afghan Babbler, are joined in Kuwait of Plain Swift, Island Canary and Berthelot’s Pipit. at this season by summering Socotra Cormorants. Chumming during our three long pelagic trips will Shikra, Lesser and Greater Sand-plovers, Red-tailed give us good opportunities to see Cory’s Shear- and Isabelline Shrikes, Basra Reed Warbler and waters, Bulwer’s, Fea’s and Zino’s Petrels and Band- Hypocolius are usually among the many migrant rumped Storm-petrel, with the added possibility of species passing through. Barolo Shearwater and White-faced Storm-petrel. Namaqua KUWAIT – WINTER ROMANIA Dove 29 Nov–7 Dec 2021 £2195 19–28 April 2021 £1795 Kuwait’s resident birds, including Crab Plover, There are many highlights on a tour that includes Namaqua Dove, Red-vented and White-eared visits to the Transylvanian Alps, the Danube Bulbuls and Afghan Babbler, are augmented in Delta and the Black Sea coast. Target species will winter by Shikra, Lesser and Greater Sand-plovers, include both European pelicans, Lesser Spotted Red-tailed Shrike, Asian Desert Warbler, Red-tailed and White-tailed Eagles, Eurasian Eagle-owl, all ten (Persian) Wheatear and Hypocolius. Several scarce European woodpeckers, Red-footed Falcon, Eurasian species, and even Kuwaiti rarities Streak-throated Nutcracker, Sombre Tit, Wallcreeper, Paddyfield Swallow and Taiga Flycatcher, have been found on Warbler, Collared Flycatcher, Pied Wheatear and recent winter tours. Alpine Accentor. Paddyfield Warbler Temminck’s Tenerife Lark MOROCCO SPAIN – Blue Chaffinch 18 Feb–1 March 2021 £1690 13–20 Sept 2020 and 2021 £1850 The diversity of Morocco’s habitats is reflected Our new 3-centre tour will look for endemics Bolle’s in its list of desirable birds: Double-spurred Fran- and Laurel Pigeons, Canary Islands Chiffchaff, Tener- colin, Northern Bald Ibis, Cream-coloured Courser, ife Blue Chaffinch and the near-endemics Plain Pharaoh Eagle-owl, Marsh Owl, Little Swift, Swift, Berthelot’s Pipit and Island Canary on Tenerife Levaillant’s Woodpecker, Black-crowned Tchagra, before flying to Gran Canaria to look for the critically- Dupont’s, Thick-billed and Temminck’s Larks, Plain endangered Gran Canaria Blue Chaffinch and finally Martin, African Desert and Tristram’s Warblers, on to Fuerteventura for Houbara Bustard, Cream- Fulvous Chatterer, Red-rumped Wheatear, House coloured Courser and the endemic Fuerteventura Bunting, Crimson-winged Finch and Desert Sparrow. Stonechat.

Fulvous Marbled Chatterer MOROCCO – WESTERN SAHARA SPAIN – COTO DOÑANA/EXTREMADURA Teal 17–23 March 2021 £1895 8–15 May 2021 £1550 On this tour we travel deep into the Sahara Desert In a European context, these two wonderful yet to look for the recently-discovered Golden Night- contrasting areas offer birding at its very best, jar. Other target birds here include Black-crowned their top species in spring arguably being Mar- Sparrow-lark, Dunn’s Lark, Cricket Longtail, Fulvous bled and White-headed Ducks, Black-winged Kite, Chatterer and Desert and Sudan Golden Sparrows, Cinereous Vulture, Spanish Eagle, Western whilst at an oasis we should find both Crowned and Swamphen, Red-knobbed Coot, both European Spotted Sandgrouse. At the coast we will look for sandgrouse, Great Spotted , Red-necked Lesser Crested and Royal Terns and possibly Kelp Nightjar, White-rumped Swift, Iberian and Gull, all within the Western Palearctic. Rufous-tailed Scrub-robin. 8 9 Eurasian Black-crowned Griffon SPAIN – TARIFA MIGRATION BORNEO Pitta 13–19 September 2021 £1295 20 Sept–3/10 October 2021 £4695 From various manned raptor watch-points we should Borneo is the third largest island in the world, see Egyptian Vulture, Eurasian Griffon, Short-toed with Mount Kinabalu in Sabah supporting many of Snake-eagle, Booted Eagle and Black Kite, with Rüp- the 50+ endemic species including Whitehead’s pell’s Griffon a possibility, as they prepare to cross Trogon, Whitehead’s Broadbill, Bornean , the Strait of Gibraltar to Africa. Target species on Fruithunter and Everett’s Thrush. The rainforests excursions will include White-headed Duck, Black- host Bornean Bristlebill, Bornean Blue Flycatch- winged Kite, Bonelli’s Eagle, Western Swamphen, er, Chestnut-crested Yuhina, Proboscis Monkey Audouin’s Gull and many other southern European and Orangutans, and we offer an extension to birds. Sarawak for Dulit Frogmouth and Black Oriole.

Black-breasted Cambodian Thrush CAMBODIA and LAOS Tailorbird 3–18/21 March 2021 £3595 Although Cambodia has only one endemic species, Cambodian Tailorbird, there are a wealth of rare and range-restricted species including Milky Stork, Giant and White-shouldered Ibises, Bengal Florican and ASIA Mekong Wagtail. We aim to see all these, together with a visit to the world-famous Angkor Wat temple, plus an extension to Laos for Bare-faced Bulbul.

Siberian BHUTAN CHINA – BEIDAIHE Blue Robin 22 March–9 April 2021 £4495 8–23 May 2021 £2495 Bhutan is unspoilt, with over 70% of its land remain- Beidaihe, on the east coast of China, is one of the ing forested and is one of the world’s top biodiver- world’s great migration hotspots. We will look for sity hotspots. On this exciting tour we will explore birds that are extreme vagrants to Europe and diffi- all of its habitats, from snow-capped mountains to cult to see in Siberia: Little Curlew, Great Knot, Asian alpine meadows and from pristine forests to stunning Dowitcher, Siberian Rubythroat, Siberian Blue Robin river valleys, in search of such sought-after Hima- and Siberian Thrush, Mugimaki Flycatcher, Thick- layan species as Rufous-necked Hornbill, Satyr billed Warbler, Pallas’s Bunting and many more. Tragopan and Ward’s Trogon. There will be visits to the Forbidden City and the Slender-billed Scimitar-babbler Great Wall. Red-tailed BHUTAN – UNEXPLORED CHINA – YUNNAN Laughingthrush 7–27 February 2021 £4295 4–20 January 2021 £3995 This additional Bhutan tour is to more remote ar- This fabulous tour will enjoy an array of normally eas of the country but still with no camping! It’s at a elusive forest birds from comfortable hides over- more relaxed pace so is suitable for photographers looking feeding stations. Up to seven species of and those wanting to enjoy areas off the main tour- pheasant, six scimitar-babblers, 15 laughingthrush- ist routes. Amongst stunning scenery we will look es, 11 thrushes and numerous forktails, flycatchers, for the critically-endangered White-bellied Heron, babblers, wren-babblers, cupwings, shortwings and stunning Himalayan Monal, aptly-named Beautiful tesias can be easily seen and photographed here. Rufous-necked Nuthatch, White-hooded Babbler, Rufous-vented We will also spend time looking for regional special- Hornbill Laughingthrush and Tibetan Serin. ities such as Yunnan Nuthatch and Yunnan Fulvetta. 10 11 Red-billed Golden Scimitar-babbler INDIA – ASSAM & MISHMI HILLS INDONESIAINDIA – –LESSER NORTH SUNDAS Bush-robin 5–17 April 2021 £3295 1420 July–2Feb–5 AugustMarch 2021 2020 £2995£4495 This tour takes us to the extreme corner of north- TheThis fabulousHimalayan tour foothillstakes us supportto four of spectacularthe islands east India at the junction of the Himalayas with Indo- avianof this diversity, rarely-visited as the part birds of ofIndonesia the hills inmeet search those of Burma. In the Brahmaputra floodplain and sub-trop- ofthe the islands’ northern many Indian endemic plains. Thisspecies tour willincluding take us the to ical forest of the Mishmi Hills we will search for onemagnificent of India’s mostSumba famed Hornbill, national the parks beautiful – Corbett Red- grassland endemics and Himalayan specialities –naped to bird-rich Fruit-dove mid-altitudes and the recently-discovered where resident species Timor such as Bengal Florican, White-winged Duck, Blyth’s andParrotfinch. regional specialitiesWe also take from a boatPallas’s trip Fish-eagleto Komodo to to and Temminck’s Tragopans, Swamp Grass Babbler Variegatedvisit its famous Laughingthrush dragons. may be expected, and Marsh Babbler, Black-breasted Parrotbill and alongside magnificent mammals including Tiger Rusty-throated Wren-babbler. and Asian Elephant.

River Nilgiri Tern INDIA – BHARATPUR INDIA – SOUTH & ANDAMANS Laughingthrush 9–21 February 2021 £2795 1–16 Feb 2021, 7–22 Feb 2022 £3995 This tour to Rajasthan combines the world famous This tour takes us to the tropical island of South Bharatpur, with its huge numbers of wintering Andaman and the Western Ghats on the mainland, birds, with the spectacular Ranthambhore reserve, two of the finest birding areas on the Indian subcon- home to a completely different avifauna and Tigers! tinent. No other part of the country is richer in en- Birds we hope to see include Indian Courser, Sarus demics and we will target such sought-after species Crane, Indian Skimmer, Indian Vulture and Tickell’s as Andaman Woodpecker, Scops-owl, Crake and Blue Flycatcher. We will also visit the Taj Mahal, the Nightjar, Black-and-orange Flycatcher, White-bellied Red Fort in Agra and Jaipur, and take a boat trip on Minivet, Nilgiri Sholakili, Nilgiri, Palani and Wayanad the Chambal River. and White-bellied Treepie.

Greater Red-naped Adjutant INDIA – EAGLENEST INDONESIA – LESSER SUNDAS Fruit-dove 20 March–5 April 2021 £3695 14 July–2 August 2021 £5295 India’s northeastern corner is considered its richest This fabulous tour takes us to four of the islands birding area. The montane rainforest of the eastern of this rarely-visited part of Indonesia in search of Himalayas and the floodplain of the Brahmaputra in the islands’ many endemic species including the the Assam Valley are recognised as two of the most magnificent Sumba Hornbill, the beautiful Red- significant endemic bird areas in Asia. This tour will naped Fruit-dove and the recently-discovered Timor take us through each of these regions, in search of Parrotfinch. We also take a boat trip to Komodo to such species as Greater Adjutant, Ibisbill, White- visit its famous dragons. winged Duck, Beautiful Nuthatch and Himalayan .

Purple-rumped Hypocolius Sunbird INDIA – GOA IRAN 6–21 Nov 2020, 2–17 Nov 2021 £2795 13–27 April 2021 £3795 This tour provides an excellent introduction to the Until very recently, Iran, with its incredible hist- Indian subcontinent with little travel involved, good ory and diverse avifauna, was off-limits to Western facilities and a fine range of birds. We will split our birders, but with travel restrictions now lifted, we time between the coastal area and productive are once again able to enjoy this fascinating coun- inland forests at the foot of the Western Ghats. try and its birds. This exciting tour will see us look- Target species for this tour include Indian Pitta, the ing for such sought-after species as the endemic endemic Vigors’s Sunbird, Sri Lanka Frogmouth, Iranian Ground-jay, Caspian Tit, Sind Woodpecker, Malabar Trogon, Heart-spotted Woodpecker, Hypocolius, Iraq Babbler, Plain and Collared Kingfisher and Malabar Grey Hornbill. Caspian Snowcock. 12 13 Steller’s Hooded Sea-eagle JAPAN MYANMAR Treepie 21 Nov–5 Dec 2020 & 2021 £5995 14 Feb–1 March 2021 £3995 This superb tour visits two of the three main islands, Join us on this stunning tour of an incredibly bio- Hokkaido and Kyushu, where we will see huge gath- diverse and largely unexplored part of south- erings of wintering Hooded Cranes together with east Asia. Our trip through this ancient and smaller numbers of White-naped Cranes and the temple-filled country will take us in search of all of the possibility of a vagrant Siberian Crane. In Hokkaido endemic species, including the globally-endangered we will also see Red-crowned Cranes together with White-browed Nuthatch, the striking White-throated a number of Japan’s endemic birds and other spe- Babbler and . cialities including Steller’s Sea-eagle and the rare Blakiston’s Fish-owl.

Pallas’s Long-tailed Sandgrouse KAZAKHSTAN NEPAL Shrike 15–24/27 May 2021 £2095 16–27/31 March 2021 £2975 Situated on one of the Silk Roads, Kazakhstan has a Nepal holds a total of over 850 species and the huge diversity of habitats ranging from barkhans to scenery is some of the most stunning on Earth. On the Tien Shan Mountains. We have an unsurpassed this tour we will visit Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve, knowledge of the country and its birds, which in- the world famous Chitwan National Park and Mount clude Himalayan Snowcock and Ibisbill in the moun- Pulchowski, from where we hope to see sunrise over tains, Caspian Plover in the steppes, Mongolian the Himalayas. Birds on our wish list for the tour will Finch in the canyons and Pallas’s Sandgrouse and include Swamp Francolin, Collared Falconet, Ibisbill Saxaul Sparrow in the deserts. There is a post-tour and Darjeeling and Rufous-bellied Woodpeckers. extension for Black and White-winged Larks. There is a post-tour extension trek to visit Ghandruk.

Malayan Palawan Laughingthrush MALAYSIA – PENINSULA PHILIPPINES Scops-owl 20 April–1 May 2021 £2995 27 Nov–13/19 Dec 2020 & 2021 £4195 With an excellent infrastructure, English-speaking Of the six hundred plus species found in the population and superb birding, this exciting new Philippines, over two hundred are endemic to this tour will look for such special species as Malaysian archipelago of over 7000 islands and the number Rail-babbler, Mountain Peacock-pheasant, Fire- is rapidly growing as endemic sub-species are split. tufted Barbet, Malayan Banded-pitta and Blue On the main tour we will visit Luzon, Bohol and Nuthatch plus many other species in the largest Palawan where speciality birds include Scale- remaining forests in south-east Asia. feathered Malkoha, Visayan Broadbill and Palawan Peacock-pheasant. There is a post-tour extension to Mindinao in search of Philippine Eagle. Pere David’s Snowfinch MONGOLIA SRI LANKA 29 June–15 July 2021 £4395 10–22/27 February 2021 £2275 Mongolia is one of the remotest birding destina- With 32 endemic bird species currently recognised, tions in the world. It is a country of great contrasts, Sri Lanka, a wonderful, warm winter destination, with vast, snow-covered mountain ranges, huge is a ‘must visit’ birding island. Among many other wetlands and windswept deserts and steppes. This specialities and winter visitors are Indian Pitta, tour will enable us to see an equally wide variety of Kashmir Flycatcher and Pied Thrush, which are exciting birds including such evocative species as easier to see here than anywhere else within their Altai Snowcock, Pallas’s Sandgrouse, Oriental ranges. This tour will be led by one of the foremost Plover, Mongolian Lark, Mongolian Accentor and Sri Lankan bird guides so there is a good chance Sri Lanka Mongolian Ground-jay. that we will see all of the endemic birds. Blue-magpie 14 15 TAIWAN VIETNAM White-rumped Yuhina Falcon 17–25 May 2021 £3695 4–26 April 2021 £4295 This tour will take us to some of Taiwan’s many diverse Vietnam has developed into a thriving country with habitats in search of some of the 26 endemic a good infrastructure and a highly desirable list of species and nearly 60 endemic sub-species that birds including 13 endemics. Join us as we explore make their homes here. High on our list of target several of the country’s stunning national parks in species will be Swinhoe’s and Mikado Pheasants, search of such mouth-watering species as Bar- , Steere’s Liocichla, Taiwan Blue-magpie, bellied and Blue Pittas and endemics such as Taiwan Fulvetta, Taiwan Yuhina, White-whiskered Collared, Orange-breasted and Chestnut-eared Laughingthrush, Collared Bush-robin and the elu- Laughingthrushes, Vietnamese Cutia, Grey-crowned sive Taiwan Partridge. Crocias and Vietnamese .

Bar-backed White-spotted Partridge THAILAND – CENTRAL AND NORTH Flufftail 9–25 February 2021 £4195 Thailand offers saltpans and marshes with Spoon- billed Sandpiper and Nordmann’s Greenshank along with superb national parks containing Great Slaty Woodpecker, Ratchet-tailed Treepie, AFRICA flowerpeckers, sunbirds, warblers and babblers. Further north we will look for Hume’s Pheasant, Pied Harrier, Crested Finchbill, , Red-faced South of the Sahara Liocichla and Scarlet Finch along with many more forest and open-ground species.

Hume’s ETHIOPIA Thick-billed Wheatear Raven 28 Jan–5 Feb 2021 £1795 1–20 Nov 2020 and 2021 £4195 The UAE is home to many Middle Eastern speciali- More than 850 bird species have been recorded ties including Socotra Cormorant, Crab Plover, Sooty in Ethiopia, 31 of them endemic to this country and Gull, Saunders’s and White-cheeked Terns, Pallid the recently-separated Eritrea. To find some of the Scops-owl, Egyptian Nightjar, Arabian Babbler and most sought-after endemics including the fabled Hume’s Wheatear. Covering a variety of habitats Prince Ruspoli’s Turaco, the range-restricted Strese- from mountains to deserts, oases and mudflats, we mann’s Bush-crow, the rarely-seen White-winged will also search for such sought-after winter visitors Collared-dove and Salvadori’s (Juba) Weaver, we as Hypocolius and Asian species such as Collared will venture to rarely-visited remote corners of this Kingfisher. ancient land.

Turkestan Blue-moustached Ground-jay UZBEKISTAN GHANA Bee-eater 8–15 May 2021 £1995 1–16 Nov 2020 and 2021 £3695 Uzbekistan offers a number of central Asian spe- This Upper Guinea rainforest and savannah cialities. Top amongst these is Turkestan Ground- special tour will take us to the rarely-visited and jay, which is relatively easy to find. Other range- unspoilt Ankasa rainforest, the only site in Ghana restricted species include Hume’s Lark, Variable for White-breasted Guineafowl. We will also visit Wheatear and Azure and Black-breasted Tits along the world-famous Kakum National Park with its can- with numerous larks and warblers. There will be opy walkway, Mole National Park with its African short tours to appreciate the history of Uzbekistan’s Savannah Elephants, the Atewa Range for Blue- ancient cities, Bukhara and Samarkand, both of moustached Bee-eater and, a highlight of the tour, a which are in excess of 2500 years old! White-necked Rockfowl nesting site. 16 17 Chinspot Cape Batis KENYA SOUTH AFRICA – CAPE ENDEMICS Sugarbird 1–18 November 2021 £5295 24 July–8 August 2021 £4195 It is not easy to describe Kenya in just a few words, South Africa’s Cape region is a land of stunning but it would be fair to say that it is one of the greatest scenery and fantastic birding in the most endem- birding destinations in the world. By visiting some ic-rich region of Africa, with a total of 25 South of the best birding sites in the country, we will see African endemics including Cape Rockjumper, Cape over six hundred species of birds and, although it is Sugarbird and larks galore plus a further 37 south- primarily a birdwatching tour, we will also see far ern African endemics. A day will also be spent cruis- more mammal species than on a regular safari as ing the bird-rich waters off the Cape of Good Hope, we will spend more hours in the field. It all adds up enjoying some of the finest sea birding in the world to an unforgettable experience. with up to six species of albatross.

Ward’s Kilombero Flycatcher MADAGASCAR TANZANIA Weaver 15 Nov–5 Dec 2020 and 2021 £5395 18 Nov–3 Dec 2020 and 2021 £5995 Madagascar’s uniqueness is legendary and this is This tour takes us to less-visited parts of Tanzania, nowhere better reflected than in its birds. Of the where a long list of uncommon and sought-after 270 species recorded on the island, no fewer birds occurs. We will visit the dry Maasai plains for than 140 are endemic or near-endemic and we will Beesley’s Lark; the Eastern Arc Mountains (Usam- see the majority of them. We will also see lemurs, baras) with their many endemic, near-endemic and chameleons and other incredible reptiles, some of highly-localised forest species; Mikumi National the world’s strangest and many endemic Park for some Miombo woodland species and the plants. Udzungwa/Kilombero area for some of the more easily accessible recent discoveries.

Dusky Red-throated Sunbird NAMIBIA THE GAMBIA Bee-eater 6–20 February 2021 £4295 6–20 Nov 2020, 5–19 Nov 2021 £2495 With plenty of sunshine, an abundance of birds and The Gambia is one of the best introductions to both other wildlife and some incredible landscapes, Na- tropical birding and Africa. We will be visiting after mibia is a ‘must visit’ destination. Whilst the only the wet season when the vegetation is still green truly endemic species is Dune Lark, other species and some of the weavers and bishops are still in such as Damara Red-billed and Monteiro’s Hornbills, summer plumage. Highlights may include Egyptian Gray’s Lark, Herero Chat, Rockrunner and White- Plover, Martial Eagle and both Red-throated and tailed Shrike are only found here and in Angola. This Northern Carmine Bee-eaters, and we will make tour aims to find as many of the specialised southern a special boat trip to look for the skulking African African species as possible. Finfoot. Many European migrants will be present.

Bush Blackcap SOUTH AFRICA 11–26 January 2021 & 2022 £3995 This tour is designed for those who wish to see the endemic and speciality birds of eastern South Africa amongst the splendour of the Drakensburg Mountains, and in the mountain kingdom of Lesotho, legendary Zululand and what is probably Africa’s most famous national park, Kruger. Targets include the rare Spotted Ground-thrush, the spectacular Gurney’s Sugarbird, the beautiful Blue Crane and, of Egyptian Blue-bellied course, many mammals. Plover Roller 18 19 Black-footed CALIFORNIA Albatross 9–24 Sept 2020 and 2021 £2695 NORTH Amidst magnificent scenery we will search for Black-footed Albatross and many other seabirds, Wandering Tattler, Yellow-footed Gull, Elegant AND Tern, Allen’s Hummingbird, Nuttall’s and White- AMERICA headed Woodpeckers, Island Scrub-jay, Yellow-billed Magpie, Oak Titmouse, California Gnatcatcher, Wren- tit, California and LeConte’s Thrashers, Townsend’s Red-legged CARIBBEAN and Hermit Warblers, California Towhee and Thrush Lawrence’s Goldfinch. ALASKA COLORADO – GROUSE Dusky Grouse 12/15–28 June/1 July 2021 £4195 13 –26 April 2021 £2895 Amid stunning scenery we will look for many spe- The main target species will be Greater and Gunni- ciality birds including Bristle-thighed Curlew, Kittlitz’s son Sage-grouse, Sharp-tailed Grouse and Greater and Ancient Murrelets, Horned and Tufted Puffins, and Lesser Prairie-chickens, all at leks, White-tailed Slaty-backed Gull, Aleutian Tern, Varied Thrush and Ptarmigan, Dusky Grouse and all three rosy-. Golden-crowned Sparrow, plus Grizzly Bear. The pre- Others will include Pygmy Nuthatch, Mountain Blue- tour extension will concentrate on finding Spectacled bird and Pine and Evening Grosbeaks in the Rocky Eider and Snowy Owl; the post-tour extension will Mountains and Scaled Quail, Mountain Plover and focus on Rock Sandpiper and a whole suite of Bering Chestnut-collared and McCown’s Longspurs on the Parakeet Auklet Sea seabirds. Great Plains. Pyrrhuloxia Bee ARIZONA CUBA Hummingbird 14–29 July 2021 £2995 21 Feb–4 March 2021 £2995 Whiskered Screech-owl, Buff-collared Nightjar, Cuba is the largest island in the Caribbean and Elegant Trogon, 10+ species of hummingbird, supports 25 endemic species. With the exception Arizona Woodpecker, Greater Pewee, Dusky- of the almost-extinct Cuban Kite and the near- capped and Buff-breasted Flycatchers, Thick-billed mythical Zapata Rail, this tour will target all of the Kingbird, Mexican Whip-poor-will, , Mex- other endemic species including Cuban Trogon, ican Chickadee, Olive and Red-faced Warblers and Fernandina’s Flicker, Bare-legged Owl and Zapa- Five-striped Sparrow are just some of the special ta Sparrow and the world’s smallest bird, Bee breeding birds not found anywhere else in the US. Hummingbird. We will also enjoy the culture and We also visit the world famous Grand Canyon. heritage of this fascinating island.

Red-breasted Ridgway’s Sapsucker ARIZONA AND CALIFORNIA DOMINICAN REPUBLIC Hawk 6–22 January 2021 £2695 8–17 March 2021 £2995 In winter, these states hold large numbers of birds This exciting tour will be targeting 31 of the 32 of many species. Targets will include Scaled Quail, endemic birds of the island of Hispaniola (with the Ferruginous Hawk, Mountain Plover, Wandering other found only in Haiti), including Golden Swallow Tattler, Surfbird, Yellow-footed Gull, Broad-billed following its disappearance from Jamaica, the high- and Allen’s Hummingbirds, Elegant Trogon, all four est number of any Caribbean island. Some species sapsuckers, Gilded Flicker, California Gnatcatcher, such as Ridgway’s Hawk are rare and endangered, Wrentit, six thrashers, Sprague’s Pipit and Baird’s whilst Ashy-faced Owl and Least Pauraque require Sparrow plus some rarities and seabirds as well as nocturnal excursions so we will be using top local Grey Whales. guides. 20 21 Red-tailed FLORIDA NEW JERSEY – CAPE MAY Hawk 10–25 February 2021 £2695 1–9 Oct 2020 and 2021 £1995 The Everglades, the Florida Keys and the Dry Cape May, our base throughout the tour, is one of Tortugas will all be visited as we look for the the world’s best-known migration hotspots, and specialities including American Flamingo, Wood is especially famous for its migration Stork, Magnificent Frigatebird, Masked and Brown and raptor passage in autumn. Several top birding Boobies, Snail Kite, Short-tailed Hawk, Limp- localities are within a ten-minute drive of our motel kin, White-crowned Pigeon, Smooth-billed , so, on most days, our time in the field will be maxi- Florida Scrub-jay, Red-whiskered Bulbul, Bachman’s mised. On some days we will travel further afield to Sparrow, Shiny Cowbird and Spot-breasted Oriole, Brigantine NWR, Stone Harbor Point and other sites. Red-cockaded Woodpecker as well as any wintering rarity. Say’s JAMAICA NEW MEXICO AND TEXAS Phoebe 21 Feb–1 March 2021 £2795 1–16 Dec 2020 and 2021 £2695 Jamaica, with its large areas of relatively undisturbed Target birds will include Ross’s Goose, Bald rain and cloud forest, is home to 28 endemic bird Eagle, Fox Sparrow, all three rosy-finches and species, most of which are easy to see. Although it other mountain specialities in New Mexico and Plain would be possible to see most of the endemics in Chachalaca, Least Grebe, Hook-billed Kite, White- a few days, by allowing a week the island can be tailed Hawk, Whooping Crane, Red-billed Pigeon, covered in a more relaxed manner with virtually Ringed and Green Kingfishers, Great Kiskadee, Green all of the endemics guaranteed, all against a back- Jay, Clay-coloured Thrush, Long-billed Thrasher, Sad drop of stunning scenery including the famous Blue Olive Sparrow and Altamira and Audubon’s Orioles Flycatcher Mountains. in Texas. Grey Marbled Trembler LESSER ANTILLES OHIO AND MICHIGAN Godwit 5–19 January 2022 £5995 12–22 May 2021 £2395 Ten small Caribbean islands with around 30 endem- Spring migration at a number of localities in ic species, of which 17 are single-island. Volcanoes, north-western Ohio means an abundance of mountains, lush rainforests and azure seas make up colourful warblers of many species at close range, this chain which stretches between Puerto Rico in plus various flycatchers, vireos, thrushes and other the north and Trinidad & Tobago in the south. This migrants; Trumpeter Swan and Red-headed Wood- relaxing new tour island hops by boat and plane to pecker also occur in the area. In Michigan we will look for endemic quail-doves, parrots, tremblers, look for Yellow Rail, Upland Sandpiper, Sedge Wren, thrashers and hummingbirds all in glorious scenery breeding Kirtland’s Warblers, Henslow’s Sparrow and warm winter sunshine. and more migrating warblers.

Eastern Whooping Bluebird NEW ENGLAND TEXAS – SPRING Crane 22 Oct–1 Nov 2020 and 2021 £2295 12–27 April 2021 £2495 The famous glorious autumn foliage will still be Texas in spring is birding heaven: from the last of vibrant and southbound migration will be in full the Whooping Cranes before they migrate north, swing as we target a range of difficult species to the Rio Grande Valley with its Plain Chachalac- including Cackling Goose, Ruffed and Grouse, as, Green Jays and Green and Ringed Kingfishers, Northern Saw-whet Owl, Black-backed Wood- to the Edwards Plateau with its Black-capped Vireos pecker, Nelson’s and Saltmarsh Sparrows and Rusty and Golden-cheeked Warblers and the grand fina- Blackbird. We can expect late warblers, early winter le at High Island with its migrant falls of buntings, visitors and some rarities, all in picturesque New orioles, sparrows, thrushes and up to 30 species of England scenery. vireos and warblers. 22 23 Red-legged Yellow-fronted Honeycreeper TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO BRAZIL – ECO-LODGE ITORORÓ Woodpecker 19 April–3 May 2021 £4295 14–24 March 2021 £2995 Situated just a few miles off the coast of Venezuela, Brazil is the second most endemic-rich country in these two islands provide an excellent introduction the world, with the threatened rainforests of the to Neotropical birding. We will spend time at the southeast holding a significant number of such world-famous Asa Wright Nature Centre with its specialities. From watching birds at the feeders in the breeding Oilbirds, visit Grande Riviere to find the gardens of our comfortable lodge, to birding in the endemic Trinidad Piping-guan and take a boat to local mountains and lowlands, this popular see Scarlet Ibises. On Tobago we will see the sec- single-base tour will enable us to see a superb ond endemic, Trinidad Motmot, and enjoy spectac- range of rainforest endemics as well as many other ular views of seabirds on Little Tobago Island. Neotropical species. Buff-tailed BRAZIL ― NORTHEAST Hooded Coronet Visorbearer 7–27 March 2021 £5395 CENTRAL With over 200 endemics, Brazil is one of the world’s top birding destinations. A visit to the northeast com- bining the threatened Atlantic Forest and Caatinga offers some truly spectacular endemic-rich birding AND SOUTH with species including Caatinga Antwren, Araripe Manakin, Caatinga Antshrike, Great Xenops, White- browed Antpitta, Stripe-backed Antbird, Hooded Visorbearer, Indigo Macaw, Scarlet-throated AMERICA Tanager, Horned Sungem and Gould’s Toucanet. Hooded Grebe ARGENTINA BRAZIL ― PANTANAL 2–18/24 December 2020 & 2021 £4595 4–15 June 2021 £4295 This new tour covers a huge range of habitats This new tour will give us the chance to see some from the Caatinga, Chaco and Salinas of the of the most highly sought-after birds and mammals north to the coasts, estuaries and Pampas of the on the planet, including Harpy Eagle and Jaguar. south and the Xorophytic plains of the Valdes Against a backdrop of spectacular numbers of ducks Peninsula and high Patagonian steppes on the and herons we will look for Sungrebe and Southern extension. This gives us the chance to see species Screamer as well as Hyacinth Macaw, whilst in the as diverse as White-headed Steamer-duck, Hooded forests we will look for many other species. Other Grebe, Black-bodied Woodpecker, Lesser Rhea and animals include Caiman, Giant River Otter, Capyba- Magellanic Penguin. ra and maybe even the rare Tapir. Coal-crested Finch BOLIVIA CHILE 12–28 Sept/3 Oct 2021 £4695 26/30 Nov–20 Dec 2022 £6495 In Bolivia we can have breakfast by an Andean lake This comprehensive tour takes us from the driest at 4500 metres, lunch in cloud-forest and supper desert on earth, the Atacama, over 4000km south in sweltering Amazonian foothill forests. Our tour through the stunning Altiplano and Patagonia to the will take us from lowlands to mountains and fo- windswept Tierra del Fuego. We will search for en- cuses on the dry and humid forests of the Andes demics from Chilean Woodstar to Chilean Tinamou, where many of Bolivia’s endemics and restrict- Moustached Turca and Crag Chilia; add in Diademed ed-range species occur. We also offer an extension Sandpiper-plover, Andean and James’s Flamingos, to the Beni department in search of the critically- Magellanic Woodpecker, numerous seabirds and Pale-winged Pale-winged endangered endemic Blue-throated Macaw. Guanacos for an unforgettable experience. Diademed TrumpeterTrumpeter Sandpiper-plover 24 25 Santa Marta COLOMBIA – MAGDALENA/SANTA MARTA ECUADOR ― SACHATAMIA LODGE Sword-billed Brush-finch Hummingbird 10–27 May 2021 £4895 5–15 Mar, 25 Sept ―5 Oct 2021 £2895 This fabulous tour concentrates on endemics in This fantastic tour to Ecuador is based for six nights the Magdalena Valley and Santa Marta Mountains, at a luxury rainforest lodge with en-suite rooms and visiting reserves that protect the last remaining for- a swimming pool, with a further three nights in ests and other habitats of some of the world’s most Quito. In Quito we will visit reserves to look for endangered birds including Bogota Rail, Black- Andean Condor, Black-faced Ibis and Sword-billed cheeked Mountain-tanager, Recurve-billed Bush- Hummingbird, whilst excursion highlights from the bird, and many birds with the prefix Santa Marta: lodge may include Torrent Duck, Plate-billed Moun- Parakeet, Sabrewing, Woodstar, Foliage-gleaner, tain-toucan, Giant Antpitta and Andean Cock-of-the- Bush-tyrant and Brush-finch. rock.

White-browed Chestnut-coloured Purpletuft COLOMBIA – ORINOCO BASIN HONDURAS Woodpecker 30 Jan–14 Feb 2021 £4795 25 Feb–11 March 2021 £3595 We will visit two of the most incredible ecosystems This exciting tour combines elements of ancient of Colombia; the Oronoco basin rainforests and the Mayan culture around the World Heritage Site of Guianan Shield White Sands forests. Expect to see Copan, pristine interior cloud forests, several nation- up to 400 species including many highly range- al parks and the breezy Caribbean north coast to restricted species: Nocturnal Currasow, Orinoco Pic- give the best possible mix of Honduran birding. The ulet, Chestnut-crested, Grey-bellied and Yapacana areas we will visit contain a combined species count Antbirds, Orinoco Softtail, Pompadour Cotinga and of over 650 of Honduras’s 760+ bird species, includ- Guianan Cock-of-the-Rock. All within spectacular ing Wine-throated Hummingbird and the critically- landscapes and welcoming indigenous peoples. endangered endemic, Honduran Emerald. Bicoloured COSTA RICA Boat-billed Antbird PANAMA Heron 22 Mar–4 April, 8–25 April 2021 £4195 31 Oct–10 Nov 2020 & 2021 £2995 Costa Rica has a well-deserved reputation as one Panama has the richest avifauna of any Central of the world’s great birding destinations. Our new American country with around 976 species. This and expanded tour includes a visit to the southwest tour combines the most productive areas includ- for Charming Hummingbird, Black-cheeked Ant- ing the Canal Zone and the Darien Gap. Highlights tanager and many other localised species, three boat may include Yellow-eared Toucanet, Slaty-tailed trips and visits to many of the best feeding stations. Trogon, Lance-tailed Manakin and Rosy Thrush- With comfortable lodging, delicious food, incredible tanager together with hummingbirds, woodcreep- scenery and 500+ bird species expected, this is a ers, antbirds, tanagers and, of course, Harpy Eagle! trip no birder will want to miss.

ECUADOR – RAINFOREST TO PARAMO PERU – ANDES AND AMAZON Rufous-breasted Antthrush 25 Jan–9 Feb, 3–18 Aug 2021 £4395 1–20 Sept 2021 £5495 Ecuador has an extraordinary variety of habitats and Peru is home to nearly 1800 species and is bless- a species list of about 1550, over half of the South ed with a great range of habitats, from the Andes American total. This tour will concentrate on the at over 6000m to a huge diversity of forests includ- north of the country, visiting the Mindo area, the ing temperate and subtropical, where the Manu remote Sacha Lodge in the rainforest and the Andean Biosphere Reserve is situated. We will spend six paramo in search of such gems as Booted nights at Manu, arguably the best birdwatching Racket-tail, and Harpy Eagle. We should location in the world. In addition, we will visit an see over 450 species. A Galapagos Islands exten- Andean Cock-of-the-rock lek and take a train ride to Giant sion is available. the Inca ruins of Machu Picchu. Hummingbird 26 27 Rainbow PERU – NORTHERN ENDEMICS AUSTRALIA – NORTH Lorikeet 20 Sept–4 Oct 2021 £4995 2–21/27 September 2021 £5195 Peru’s unspoilt northern Andes, the impressive This fantastic tour will concentrate on one of the most Marañon river region and the cloud and elfin biologically-diverse and scenically-attractive parts forests of Abra Patricia are home to a wealth of end- of Australia: the northeast. Covering such world- emic and endangered species from the magnificent renowned birding sites as Kakadu National Park, Marvelous Spatuletail to the bizarre Long-whiskered Michaelmas Cay on the Great Barrier Reef and Owlet. This unforgettable tour will see us bird- O’Reilly’s Guest House, and including trips to see ing in tracts of virgin forest, coastal wetlands and wild Koalas and some aboriginal rock art, this will semi-desert and we should see in excess of 450 surely be a trip of a lifetime for any birder. Long-whiskered species during our stay. Owlet Tasmanian White-plumed Native-hen AUSTRALIA – SOUTHEAST Honeyeater 18 Sept–5/9 Oct 2021 £5395 This tour will search for a large number of endemic species including Gang-gang Cockatoo, AUSTRALASIA Superb Lyrebird and Plains-wanderer, many of which can only be found in the southeastern part of the continent. We will also encounter kangaroos, AND wallabies, Koala and Platypus! On the post-tour CRUISES extension to Tasmania, there are a further twelve endemics to look for, including Forty-spotted Pardalote and many endemic sub-species. Wandering ANTARCTIC CRUISE NEW ZEALAND South Island Albatross Kiwi Various Nov 2020–Feb 2021 £5990 4–27 Nov 2021 £6995 This breathtaking tour will take us via Ushuaia to the Join us on this incredible tour as we visit North, South South Atlantic Ocean to find penguins, albatrosses, and Stewart Islands in search of such sought-after shearwaters, petrels, prions and many other spe- species as Blue Duck, Wrybill, Kea, three species cies that are difficult or almost impossible to find of penguin, all five kiwi species and the critically- anywhere else in the world. The cruise will be on an endangered Black Stilt. We will also take one of ice-strengthened ship with a maximum of 48 people the world’s most famous pelagic trips out of Kaik- on board, enabling us to land (weather depending) oura, where we will be surrounded by albatrosses on the Antarctic Peninsula at Paradise Bay. Whales and a myriad of other seabirds – an unforgettable and seals will also be a feature of the cruise. experience.

Ivory Gull ARCTIC CRUISE PAPUA NEW GUINEA Various March–Oct 2021/2022 £3995 June/July 2022 £6995 This cruise takes us to Spitsbergen, a Norwegian The extraordinary island of New Guinea supports Arctic archipelago about 650 kilometres north of the most of the world’s 50 plus species of birds-of-para- mainland. It is by far the largest wilderness area in dise, with the majority of these found in the eastern Europe, where a number of high Arctic bird spe- part in Papua New Guinea. With improved infrastruc- cies, including Ivory Gull, can be seen on their ture this destination is less physically demanding breeding grounds amidst stunning scenery. Other than in the past and we will enjoy excellent views of species we hope to see include Red Phalarope, King a number of them including the spectacular Raggia- Eider, Dovekie, Beluga, Walrus, Reindeer, Arctic Fox na Bird-of-paradise as well as bowerbirds, parotias, Raggiana and Polar Bear. manucodes, riflebirds and sicklebills. Bird-of-paradise 28 29 We would like to thank the following people, without whose help the production of this brochure and the running of the tours would be infinitely more difficult:

Peter Basterfield (advertising, photographic editor and Birdfair), Peter Lansdown (leader, editor and Birdfair), Martin Tribe (for putting this brochure together and running what must be the best birdwatching holiday company website on the net).

And of course our office teamHelen Heyes and Ray Grace.

We would also like to thank all the leaders who have led/co-led all our highly-successful tours and, last but not least, thank all the participants who have made the tours so enjoyable.

Front cover Buffy Fish-owl (Vaughan Ashby)

Back cover Red-winged Laughingthrush (Vaughan Ashby) Narina Trogon (Vaughan Ashby) Splendid Fairy-wren (Vaughan Ashby) Golden-collared Tanager (Vaughan Ashby)

All the flights and flight-inclusive holidays in this brochure are financially protected by the ATOL scheme. When you pay you will be supplied with an ATOL Certificate. Please ask for it and check to ensure that everything you booked (flights and other services) is listed on it. Please see our booking conditions for further information or for more information about financial protection and the ATOL Certificate go to: www.atol.org.uk/ ATOLCertificate.

© 2020 Birdfinders

Vaughan and Svetlana Ashby, Birdfinders, West Bank, Cheselbourne, Dorset, DT2 7NW, UK tel: +44 (0)1258 839066 mobile: 07768 691997 email: [email protected] web: www.birdfinders.co.uk 32